Troy native is IM-pressive

Bobby Colla

Sports Editor

Freshman guard Imre Megyeri of Hudson Valley’s men’s basketball team has scored more than 10 points per game through the first 10 games of the season, exceeding coaching staff expectations.

Megyeri, in his first 10 games as a Viking, has put up numbers that head coach Mike Long called “a pleasant surprise.”

“I didn’t really know much about Imre before tryouts,” said Long.

Long found that Megyeri had gone to Troy High School and contacted their head basketball coach Richard Hurley to get his opinion on Imre.

“He was very high on him as an individual, and said that Imre is a hard worker and is athletic,” said Long. “Based on what Hurley told me, I had an idea of what Imre could do,” Long added.

According to Long, Megyeri has yet to reach his full potential, but is confident that he will get there with his willingness to work hard.

“During practice, I have seen how hard he plays, and he plays good defense, which is big for me,” said Long.

Long has stated in the past that defense has always been the most important thing to him as a head coach.

“The biggest surprise was his three point shooting. He’s been a nice find for us,” he said.

Megyeri’s biggest moment of the year was on Sunday, Nov. 9, playing at home against Onondaga, when he scored 13 points and had 3 steals in the Vikings 73-67 victory. That game was his first start at Hudson Valley, following an injury to the previous starter Jon Griggs just a day before.

“Jon had been playing well, until he got hurt. It’s nice that we had someone behind him that could step in and fill his shoes. which Imre has done,” said Long.

“Imre just fell into the spot, and we didn’t miss a beat,” said Vikings forward Scott Melville.

According to Melville, the team has bonded well and haven’t had to adjust to change in lineups because they “aren’t worried about it.”

He added that the team feels great about having Imre as a defensive anchor as well as a ignitor on the floor.

“He’s probably our best on ball defender. If we need a spark, like for defense to shut the other teams best player down, he can do it,” he said.

According to Megyeri, he has enjoyed his time with the team, because “it’s a team effort.”

Megyeri has gives much of the credit to his teammates.

“This team gets me a lot of open shots,” he said.

Megyeri said that he didn’t always have as much faith in himself as a basketball player when he was younger.

“I was always shy and timid. I always felt a lot of pressure to play good,” he added.

“Through the years, I have figured out how to overcome the pressure I put on myself. I still want to do whatever I can to become the best I can,” said Megyeri.

Megyeri added that starting a game and playing as a bench player don’t affect his play, because his mindset doesn’t change. He said that Griggs’s injury has not changed his approach to the game.

“No matter what, whenever I go into the game, I try to do the best I can to make an impact,” said Megyeri.